😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $650 in Carthage.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $1,056 in Carthage.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $1,462 in Carthage.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 264% more expensive than Carthage, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Carthage is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$5.01TND 14.55
250.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$25.83TND 75.0
164.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$5.22TND 15.14
169.35%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$1.06TND 3.08
162.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.70TND 2.04
300.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.28TND 0.82
635.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
$1.68TND 4.87
165.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
$1.92TND 5.57
140.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.49TND 1.43
153.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.20TND 0.58
915.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.74TND 5.04
10.34%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.64TND 4.77
101.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$10.47TND 30.39
76.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$6.11TND 17.75
55.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$14.88TND 43.21
28.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$2.02TND 5.88
30.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$3.53TND 10.24
-30.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$1.12TND 3.26
89.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.74TND 2.14
285.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.78TND 2.27
161.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.66TND 1.92
180.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$0.46TND 1.34
219.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.31TND 0.91
170.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$3.56TND 10.32
100.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
$7.78TND 22.59
1.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
$1.30TND 3.77
6.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
$1.26TND 3.65
83.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.36TND 1.03
727.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$7.26TND 21.08
303.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$0.32TND 0.94
1337.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$0.31TND 0.89
567.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$3.37TND 9.79
765.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.83TND 2.41
121.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$40.3KTND 117.1K
-3.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$36.2KTND 105.1K
-9.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$45.69TND 133
311.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$9.47TND 27.50
142.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$18.94TND 55.0
93.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$37.63TND 109
52.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$13.48TND 39.15
53.56%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$5.31TND 15.41
110.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$109TND 316
562.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$3,369TND 9,781
346.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$44.85TND 130
92.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$61.5TND 178
-39.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$97.0TND 282
5.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$65.6TND 191
76.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$168TND 487
813.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$99.8TND 290
1123.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$301TND 874
795.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$239TND 695
741.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
$867TND 2,519
732.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
$413TND 1,198
1157.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Carthage
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$278TND 807
748.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
10.96
-69.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Carthage: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $168 in Carthage. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 749% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $26.00 in Carthage for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $200 per month, with Carthage cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Carthage: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Carthage?
Barcelona and Carthage differ by about 264% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $650 including rent). Carthage is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Carthage?
Barcelona pays 749% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Carthage?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $168 in Carthage. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Carthage?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $109 in Carthage. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $650 in Carthage versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Carthage but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Carthage the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Carthage?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Carthage safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Carthage are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Carthage?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 264% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.